Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

vintage first names no longer in use today or not popular anymore

green papaya

One Too Many
Messages
1,261
Location
California, usa
please list some names from the golden era or earlier that nobody names their children anymore.

here are a few that are not common anymore:

Harry

Dick

Gertrude

Howard

Bessy

Edith

Mabel

Pearl

Leroy

Floyd
 

Alex

Practically Family
Messages
643
Location
Iowa, US
Sue

Charlotte

Those are both my grandma's names. Out of the ones you stated, I feel like Bessy would be one that could pass today. Maybe Pearl as well.
 

Yeps

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,456
Location
Philly
Evelyn
Caramella

Edgar
Earl
Henry, to a slightly lesser extent.

All I had to do was name my grandparents (my paternal grandfather gets two names on the list.)
 

The Good

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,361
Location
California, USA
Two names don't seem particularly common these days, among my generation here in L.A.

Richard
Lucy

I meet, or hear of people with these names more from the older crowd.
 
Messages
15,563
Location
East Central Indiana
Many names were regionally popular. My Great Grandfather's name was 'Micajah' Brown. A name that was quite popular in Wilks County,NC during the 1800s.
Harriet
Isabelle
Lamont
Mattie
Pearl
Rufus
Carrie
Delphia
Rachel
Lucinda
Polly
Arminda
Carrie
Otis
Myrtle
....all family names of that time period and area.
HD
 
Messages
10,883
Location
Portage, Wis.
I woman I am seeing and I were discussing the naming of children a few days ago. The deal is Oldest Son, after myself. Then the next oldest, she would want Harold, after her grandfather. She also wants Gertrude and Beatrice for girls. I am partial to Betty, after my grandmother.
 

Miss Moonlight

A-List Customer
Messages
440
Location
San Diego
When I was naming my daughter, I thought of my maternal grandma and her sister- Thelma or Ina Mae. My mom begged me not to use Thelma, and Ina Mae just didn't suit her. But it's a lovely name.
 

Puzzicato

One Too Many
Messages
1,843
Location
Ex-pat Ozzie in Greater London, UK
please list some names from the golden era or earlier that nobody names their children anymore.

here are a few that are not common anymore:

Harry

Dick

Gertrude

Howard

Bessy

Edith

Mabel

Pearl

Leroy

Floyd

Harry is a very common boy's name in the UK - I don't know if that is down to Harry Potter or Prince Harry! My cousin, who is in his teens, was christened Harold Gordon, after his 2 grandfathers, and he was very relieved when Harry Potter came out and made Harry a cool name again.

Some of the old-fashioned girl's names seem to be coming back into vogue too - Harriet, Martha, Matilda, Daisy, Molly, Phoebe, Olivia and Grace have all been in the top 100 in recent years.

My grandparents - Edward, Gordon, Beverley & Liselotte. Edward is the only one I see with a chance of making a real resurgence!
 

Drappa

One Too Many
Messages
1,141
Location
Hampshire, UK
Since all of these have been Anglo names, I'll ad my paternal grandparents and great grandparents:
Erna
Johanne
Emil
Friedrich
Gustav Adolf

For obvious reasons I could never name my kids after my grandfather (last), but even the others wouldn't really work if I continue to live in the UK.
My husband was supposed to be named Rupert Oscar after a relative, but my MIL intervened.
I would love to name a potential daughter Erna after my grandmother, but fear the child would be teased too much.
 
Last edited:

scotrace

Head Bartender
Staff member
Messages
14,392
Location
Small Town Ohio, USA
Grandmothers:
Grace (has again become popular - my daughter's name (18) is Grace). She had a rare middle name, Verneda.
Amanda (never really fell from popularity)
Mother: Marie Edna
Grandfather: Clarence
Great grandmother: Etta Mae

Other names that seem to have vanished: Dorothy, Phillis (for good reason!), Gladys, Eleanor, Frank (though I know one under 30).
 

green papaya

One Too Many
Messages
1,261
Location
California, usa
woman's name Ethel

like at the gas station when they use to say fill her up with "ETHEL" who's ETHEL?


"If you run out of gas, get ethyl. If Ethel runs out, get Mabel!"

Groucho Marx (Character) - Quotes
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
109,097
Messages
3,074,090
Members
54,091
Latest member
toptvsspala
Top